How is feline asthma treated?

Feline asthma is a relatively common disease in cats that causes coughing and in the more severe cases, difficulty breathing.

Cigarette smoke and strong perfumes/fragrances are very irritating to the airways and should be kept away from your asthmatic cat. It is important that your cat has a healthy weight since obesity causes further strain to the airways. Treatment involves the use of cortisone and bronchodilators (medications that open up the airways). Bronchodilators are mostly used at the start of treatment and during acute asthmatic attacks. The cortisone can either be in the form of tablets or given through an inhaler. Tablets are often used in the beginning of treatment, and once the cat is stabilised, cortisone inhalers are usually introduced. A lot of cats tolerate inhalers well; there are special masks (Aerokat) available that are designed for cats. This allows the cortisone to directly reach the airways, resulting in fewer side effects and lower doses of cortisone.